Written Question: Parole for IPP Prisoners

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar on 4 April (HL7159) which said there would be greater ministerial scrutiny of the moves of indeterminate sentence prisoners to open conditions”, whether this policy has already been put into effect and, if so, from what date; if the policy has not been put into effect, on what date it will come into force; which minister will be charged with undertaking the scrutiny referred to; what criteria will determine which cases are considered; against what criteria they will assess the case for a move to open conditions, and if these will differ from the criteria currently applied by officials; and what documentation the minister will receive and consider in order to reach a decision in the cases they consider personally.

Government Whip, Ministry of Justice (Lady Scott of Bybrook): Following a decision by the Deputy Prime Minister last year, there will now be greater scrutiny of Parole Board recommendations on open prison moves. The test for considering a recommendation for open conditions for Indeterminate Sentence Prisoners (ISPs) will change, and I will write to the noble Lord in due course to provide an update.

Our primary responsibility is to protect the public and it remains the case that the independent Parole Board will grant those serving indeterminate sentences release only once they have demonstrated they will no longer pose a significant risk to the public.